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At the end of the MIHMES project, INRA researchers developed new approaches to create more robust epidemiological models. STEMAH, a new consortium, supported by the Carnot France Futur Elevage Institute, will use these results to create new decision-making tools for animal health stakeholders.

Keywords : Modeling - Animal health - Carnot Institute - Epidemiology - Artificial Intelligence

For the past 15 years, the laboratory "biology, epidemiology and risk analysis in animal health" -BioEpaR-, a member of the Institut Carnot France Futur Elevage, has specialised in modelling the spread of animal diseases. Modelling enables the definition and evaluation of strategies for managing health risks and their costs for livestock farms in a defined geographical area. Combining computer simulation and integration of data from the field, this work is a valuable aid to the sector in a particularly competitive and tense economic context. 

As part of the MIHMES investment in the future project (2012-2017), coordinated by BIOEPAR, INRA and INRIA researchers have developed new modelling methods combining artificial intelligence and cloud technologies. They have produced decision support tools (DSTs) based on the development environments (framework) created in the project. The first framework, Diffuse (Distributed Framework for Cloud-Based Epidemic Simulations), makes it possible to exploit all the resources of the cloud for the distribution of calculations and thus to gain in performance and execution time. The second framework, Emulsion (Epidemiological Multi-Level Simulation), uses artificial intelligence technologies (multi-agent, multi-level system) to speed up the development of ADOs and new epidemiological models and make them more reliable. Together, these innovations facilitate the integration of biological knowledge on animal husbandry practices and sanitary measures (hygiene, animal movements, vaccine characteristics, etc.). They also make it possible to study as many scenarios as necessary, from the herd scale to the regional, industry or even country scale.

EvalBVD and EvalParaTuB: ADOs already available and distinguished by professionals

Researchers have notably developed two tools that won awards at the Salon International de l'Elevage (SPACE) in 2015 and 2016: EvalBVD, for the management of bovine viral diarrhoea and EvalParaTuB, for the management of bovine paratuberculosis. These ADOs are intended for veterinarians and health organizations. They enable the development of management strategies for these diseases at farm level, to compare them and to evaluate their economic impact. These tools are accessible via the web and have a personal space to save the tested scenarios.

© Inra

An open consortium to maintain technology and develop new ADOs

ADOs, software and frameworks have proven to be reliable and robust. The use of these results is being pursued within the framework of a consortium to industrialise the development process of new software and ADOs for animal health stakeholders. This consortium, called STEMAH (Software and Tools for Epidemiological Modeling in Animal Health), already involves the partners of the MIHMES project. It aims to maintain existing applications and extend them to large scales, and proposes a coherent software suite integrating ADOs for the management of other health disorders (vaccination, control plans, etc.).

The Carnot France Futur Elevage Institute assists researchers in setting up and building the STEMAH consortium. It is open to any interested public or private actor, an entry to the consortium is possible at any time.

Contacts

Scientific contacts :

•  Pauline Ezanno Joint Research Unit for Biology, Epidemiology and Risk Analysis in Animal Health - UMR1300 BIOEPAR- Inra and Oniris, Atlanpole - La Chantrerie F- 44307 Nantes cedex 03
•  Vianney Sicard Joint Research Unit for Biology, Epidemiology and Risk Analysis in Animal Health - UMR1300 BIOEPAR- Inra and Oniris, Atlanpole - La Chantrerie F- 44307 Nantes cedex 03

Case manager : Fanny Wacquet (01 42 75 93 26 )

Associated Department: Santé animale

Associated Centre : Pays de la Loire

As a reminder

The MIHMES project - Multi-scale Modelling, from Intra-Host to Metapopulation, of Pathogen Spread for Evaluating Control Strategies -, funded by Investissements d'Avenir (2012-2017), has produced scientific knowledge and methods to assist in the management of enzootic infectious animal diseases and veterinary public health risks.

6 laboratories involved: 5 French research teams and one Swedish team. Their competences range from mathematics - computer science, to economics through infectiology - immunology - epidemiology.

The overall cost was €6 million, of which €1.2 million was financed by the French National Research Agency and €621k by the European Regional Development Fund for the Pays-de-la-Loire (ERDF).

France Futur Élevage

The Institut Carnot France Futur Élevage offers companies in the livestock sector R&D skills that mobilize three essential levers of action for sustainable and profitable multi-performing livestock farming: health, food and breeding systems, and animal genetics.

France Futur Élevage brings together players in agro-veterinary research with worldwide visibility and the expert R&D know-how of three leading international Agricultural Technical Institutes in livestock services.

Each year, it finances several upstream research projects for its member teams, known as resourcing projects, whose objective is to generate results that can be transferred to companies.

Twitter : @Carnot_F2E
Contact : Fanny Wacquet, case manager, fanny.wacquet@inra.fr ; Tél : 01 42 75 93 26

Keywords : Artificial intelligence - Animal health - Epidemiology - Modeling - Carnot Institute - Epidemiology - Artificial Intelligence